T H E LOS A L A M OS N AT I O N A L B A N K POPEJOY SCHOOLTIME SERIES T E AC H I N G G U I D E D C EE TM H SR A RA C

Presented by Boxtales Theatre Company Friday, March 2, 2018 Grad

es: K

- 6 Dreamcatchers Teaching Guides align with

the Common Core State Standards and New Mexico State Learning Standards.

Waters of the EarthMulticultural Tales of the Sea

Waters of the Earth TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS 2

Waters of the Earth - Multicultural Tales of the Sea is an exploration of four rich

folklores and mythologies of seafaring people from around the world. Boxtales

Theatre Company uses masks, movement, storytelling, and live music to recreate

these legends. They believe that by watching the myths of an ancient society come to

life on stage, we can understand the culture and history of a civilization.

Sealskin Soulskin begins with a lonely man who steals the sealskin of a Selkie, or sea

woman. The woman asks for her skin back, but the man refuses unless the woman

marries and lives with him for seven years. The Selkie agrees, and the two fall in love

and have a son. After the seventh year, the Selkie woman grows ill and demands her

skin back, but the man refuses. With help from Grandfather Seal, this story shows us

the importance of family, individuality, and how we all sometimes use our instincts to

find our way home.

Dionysus and the Pirate Ship celebrates the Greek God Dionysus - the God of grapes

and theatre. While taken prisoner on a pirate ship, Dionysus is tied to the mast!

The pirates realize Dionysus isn’t a normal man when the ropes fall from his wrists.

During the course of this tale, the pirates learn that looks can be deceiving and to be

respectful toward everyone.

Raven and the Man Who Sits on the Tides is a folktale from native Pacific Northwest

culture. Raven is a trickster who tries to convince the Man Who Sits on the Tide to let

the tide go out so that everyone can gather their food. The man’s job is to sit on the

tide! Watch as Raven uses his sly and witty personality to teach an old dog new tricks.

The telling of the tale answers questions such as, “Have you ever wondered where the

fog comes from?” or “Why do the tides go in and out?”

Sinbad the Sailor and the Valley of Diamonds is a classic adventure story from One

Thousand and One Nights, featuring Sinbad the Sailor who was abandoned on a

remote island by his shipmates. The island is crawling with huge serpents and giant

birds called Rhuks that lead Sinbad to discover the Valley of Diamonds. He is pleased

with the treasure he finds, but is not happy with what he has to do to get back home.

The romantic adventures of Sinbad the Sailor were so legendary that even Alexander

the Great had his theories about the Valley of Diamonds!

SYNOPSIS

Standards Addressed By Attending the Performance

NMCCSSELA-Literacy.SL.2

New Mexico Content

Standards: Fine Arts/Theatre: Content

Standards 3 & 5

All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.” - TONI MORRISON‘‘

 

Waters of the Earth TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS 3

Vocabularyamalgamation - two or more things united into one

chanteys - songs sung by sailors on ships

culture - the beliefs, customs, and arts of a society or group

demigod - a person in mythology who has some of the powers of a god; a being in mythology who is part god and part human

folktale - a traditional story

hero - a person who is admired for great and brave acts or fine qualities

instincts - something you know without learning it or thinking about it

mythology - a story that was told in ancient culture to explain a practice, belief, or natural occurrence

shaman - someone who, in some cultures, is believed to be able to use magic to cure people who are sick, control future events, etc.

sly - clever in a dishonest or devious way

Fun Facts for StudentsSealskin Soulskin is commonly called The Seal Maiden, Selkie-o, Pamrauk, Little Seal, or Eyalirtaq Flesh of the Seal in different cultures.

Numbers are usually important in mythologies. In Sealskin Soulskin, Selkie must marry for 7 years, and in mythology, 7 means perfection.

Theatre was very important to the Greeks. It was a way to spread religion and raise awareness to social issues.

The Greek God of Theatre, Dionysus, was

one of Zeus’ 64 demigod children. He had over 100 total God and Demigod children.

Ravens are the most prominent characters in Northwest native tales. They are often described as “shape shifters” and “tricksters.”

One Thousand and One Nights, also called The Arabian Nights, is a collection of over 200 stories within stories within stories!

The main body of a ship is called a hull. At the front of the hull is the bow, and at the boat’s end is the stern.

Historians believe the earliest ships were built in 16,000 BC in Europe.

Traditionally, the word “ship” was distinguished from “boat” because a ship is bigger. Now, “ship” and “boat” are used arbitrarily or are thought to mean the same thing.

Waters of the Earth TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS 4

All About ShipsThe earliest ships were built from animal skins stretched over a wooden frame. Now, we have

nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that haul up to 85 airplanes and 5,000 people! What hasn’t

changed is that a ship’s meaning has always shown the values and technologies of the people who

built them.

Ancient traders in the Mediterranean built smooth ships that

were big enough to carry large cargo loads. During wartime,

later versions of this ship had oars to make it easier to move.

Unlike the Mediterranean traders, the Spanish and Portuguese

built smaller boats to carry their explorers to new lands. Once

they claimed the land, they would build huge merchant ships

to bring their riches back to their home countries.

After the 16th century, ships changed because of new uses and requirements. More people

wanted to travel or move to the Americas or Australia, which required faster boats. These were

powered by steam instead of sails, and traveled four times faster than wind-powered boats. The

21st century and the advances in technology made jet airplanes more popular for commerce and

transportation, which decreased the number of ships built.

Waters of the Earth TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS 5

Objectives

Materials• Maps of the world, atlases

• Plastic bottles with caps (one for each child writing a tale)

• Paper, pens, pencils, etc.

• A water table, fish tank, or large basin (optional)

Procedure 1. Tell the students that they are going to write a tale about an imaginary adventure or trip that

leaves them stranded on a desert island. Explain that the only chance for rescue is to write a message, put it in a bottle, and put the bottle in the water, with the hope that someone will find it.

2. Brainstorm the kind of information they should include in their tales. For example, who they are, where they were going, when they got stranded, where they left from, and how they were traveling. They should also include information about the desert island, such as the climate, what the island is like, what plants and animals they have seen, and how they are surviving. Record their suggestions on the board or chart paper.

3. When they are ready to begin writing, make maps and/or atlases available to them. They can refer to the maps if they need help planning their trips or spelling the names of places to include in their tales. When the students have finished their tales, have them place the tales in the bottles on top of a table (if you are using a water table or other container, place the bottles in the water).

4. Have the students select a bottle that is not their own from the table or water.

5. Read aloud the tales within. After reading each tale, they can “rescue” the author by using maps and story details to find approximately where he or she is stranded.

Students will:

• write an imaginary tale of travel and adventure that leaves its charactors stranded on a desert island.

A Message in a BottleLesson 1

Grades: K - 6 with modifications

NMCCSS:ELA-Literacy.W.3

ELA-Literacy.W.4

ELA-Literacy.W.8

ELA-Literacy.SL.2

ELA-Literacy.SL.5

NM State Standards: 

Social Studies/Geography:

Content Standard 2

Extensions/Modifications

Assessment

• This lesson may be done as a class with survivors of one ship. Have them be different char-acters with different jobs on the ship from captain to cabin boy, or wealthy passenger to servant. Have the class research different positions on the ship and what their jobs would be, social status, living conditions, pay, and food they would eat.

• If your class is studying a certain area of the world in social studies, have them write about being stranded on desert islands off the coasts of countries within that region. Older students can research the tides and ocean currents, and estimate where the bottle might end up and interpret the letter from that culture’s viewpoint.

• Arrange with a teacher of another class to have your tales sent there. The students in the other class can try to locate the writer of each tale. Your class could do the same with tales from the students in that class.

• Using one of the myths from the show, have the students choose a character and write their letter from that person’s viewpoint.

• Quality of participation

Waters of the Earth TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS 6

Grades: 3 - 6NMCCSS:

ELA-Literacy.RL.7

ELA-Literacy.RL.10

ELA-Literacy.SL.2

ELA-Literacy.SL.5

NM State

Standards: Fine Arts/Theatre:

Content Standards 1, 2, 3,

& 6

Social Studies/Geography:

Content Standard 2

Objectives

Materials • Examples of legends or folktales from the cultures of peoples native to the Americas

Procedure 1. Introduce students to legends and folktales of Native American cultures by reading one to the class.

If possible, choose a story that explains some aspect of the culture, such as an origin story (this can include the origins of a custom, cultural practice, something in nature like the mountain ranges, etc.).

2. Explain that many of these stories were created by storytellers, who passed them on to others orally, not in writing. They were written down later.

3. Tell the students that they are going to become oral storytellers themselves. They will chose a story to learn and then present the story as part of a storytelling festival.

4. Divide the class into storytelling teams, or have them form their own groups.

5. Give students time to do research and to choose a story that says something important about the culture from which it comes.

6. Remind students that their stories will be performed and to choose a story that lends itself to a dra-matic reading or presentation (You might want to review the groups’ choices).

7. The group should study the story and make a plan for how they would like to perform or “tell” it. For example, students may want to assign different parts of the story to each group member or have one group member act out apart or play an instrument. The group should know the beginning, middle, and end of their story.

8. Encourage the groups to be creative about their presentations. Some students may want to add music and props, some may be able to incorporate costumes or rhythmic movements. Explain the concept of the Greek Chorus as an idea for presentation. Allow enough rehearsal time for each group.

9. Hold the first performances in the classroom and discuss with students how to share the storytelling

with other classes, or with family and community members.

Students will:

• explore the native cultures of the Americas.

• learn a story or myth from one of those cultures.

• share their knowledge with others.

A Storytelling FestivalLesson 2

Extensions/Modifications

Assessment

• Record the presentations and make them available in the school library. Share the record-ing with another class in your school or in another community that is studying the same, or a related, themes.

• If student enthusiasm stays high, suggest that students share their stories with the community by presenting them at a local nursing home, hospital, or school assembly.

• Encourage the students to think of a landform or custom in their region and to write a “folk-tale” about it.

• Quality of participation

Waters of the Earth TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS 7

Questions to Engage & Connect

After seeing the show, ask your students to answer

these questions:

Before coming to the show, I didn’t know....

The tale I like the best is…

The most interesting part of the show is…

I used my imagination the most when…

I would/would not want to go on a long sea

voyage because…

If I were one of the characters, I would be…

All the stories had these things in common…

What I want to share with my family and friends is...

Bonus Explorations LESSONS & ACTIVITIES

The Sailor’s Sea Chest (Grades: K - 6) Students will make a model sea chest, then fill it with provisions for a voyage. Review the full-length version of this lesson through the link provided.

Made to Sail (Grades: 2 - 6) Students will use simple materials to make model sailboats which must stay upright and sail straight in a testing tank. Review the full-length version of this lesson through the link provided.

Waters of the Earth (Grades: K - 6) Students will make a striking visual display showing the distribution of water on Earth. Review the full-length version of this lesson through the link provided.

Sea Chanteys (Grades: 2 - 6) Sea Chanteys were call and response songs invented and sung by sailors in order to make their work on the ship a little easier and more enjoyable. Call and response work songs have existed in almost every culture. When there is a big job that could not be done by an individual, a group would gather, sing together, and get the job done as a team. There are many different kinds of chanteys explored in the link provided and a lesson to go with it.

ResourcesBOOKS

al Shayk, Hanan, One Thousand and One Nights. Anchor Books, a division of Random House LLC, 2011.

Daynes, Katie. Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor. EDC Publishing, 2008.

Estés, Clarissa Pinkola. Women Who Run With Wolves. Random House Publishing Group, 1992.

McDermott, Gerald. Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest. HarperCollins Publishing, 1993.

WEBSITES

The Meaning of Numbers in Mythology Explore the numbers associated with certain figures in mythology and their meanings.

Sea Ballads and Chanteys Listen to over half an hour of modern versions of sea chanteys. Ahoy, matey!

Rick RiordanWatch and listen to The Light-ning Thief author Rick Riordan talk briefly about his love for mythology and the history of the fantasy genre.

Make an Ancient Greek Water Clock! Use a plastic water bottle, masking tape, and a sharpie to track time like the ancient Greeks did!

Myths from Around the World A teacher’s activity guide for myths from 15 countries.

About the CompanyBoxtales is a storytelling theatre company out of Santa Barbara, CA. Their work is de-signed for multi-generational audiences and has been primarily booked into youth and family programming. Their mission is to fire imaginations, inspire creativity, strengthen cul-tural pride, encourage tolerance, and engage young people in the excitement and imme-diacy of live performance.

About the Schooltime SeriesThe Los Alamos National Bank Popejoy Schooltime Series brings you national and international touring companies and performers you can’t see anywhere else in or around Albuquerque. Each touring company is selected with youth and family audiences in mind, and our repertoire reflects the cultural diversity of our global community. The Schooltime Series includes new plays, familiar stories, literary works, biographies, mythologies, folk tales, music, dance, and puppetry. These professional performing artists create educational experiences designed to encourage literacy, creativity, communication, and imagination.

Send an email with your name and email address to schooltime@popejoypresents.com requesting to be added to the mailing and monthly newsletter list. Visit us at schooltimeseries.com and facebook.com/schooltimeseries.

Popejoy HallPopejoy Hall is New Mexico’s premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. Our misssion is to provide access to the performing arts for all New Mexicans.

EtiquetteThe inside of a theatre is called a “house” and to get along, have fun, and enjoy the shows, there are rules to follow. Schooltime provides a wonderful opportunity to learn how good behavior in a live theater is different from watching television at home. For guidelines to practice with your class and chaperones go to schooltimeseries.com/house-policies.

House PoliciesPlease visit our website for detailed information about House Policies. This includes our guidelines on safety, special needs, food and drink, backpacks, cell phones, photography, recordings, and more.

Credits Dreamcatchers are Teaching Guides produced by the Education Department of Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Selected Dreamcatchers Teaching Guide materials provided by Boxtales Theatre Company, Merriam Webster, IMBD, the Boxtales Theatre Company Guide and other resources noted throughout this guide.

The University of New MexicoThe Los Alamos National Bank Popejoy Schooltime Series is a program of The University of New Mexico.

SchooltimeSER IES

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The Schooltime Series is a proud member of

The LANB Popejoy Schooltime Series is supported in part by

awards from:

P O P E J OY H A L L : U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D E D ~ C O M M U N I T Y F U N D E D

The Eugene & Marion Castiglia Popejoy

Children’s Schooltime Endowment

The Popejoy Schooltime Education Endowment